Three perspectives on President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which is intended to defend U.S. targets from a Soviet nuclear attack, are presented in separate sections. In the first section, "Soviet Interpretation and Response," Jerry F. Hough examines possible reasons for Soviet preoccupation with SDI. He discusses the perceived threat, diplomatic considerations, and domestic strategies. In the second section, "A New Dilemma for NATO," Stanley R. Sloan examines the web of political and military strategies and events that followed NATO's decision to embark on plans to deploy new U.S. intermediate-range nuclear missiles while continuing to pursue negotiations with the Soviets on limiting such weapons. He then applies the lessons from NATO's recent experiences to the next nuclear crisis looming on the horizon, SDI, and identifies its implications for NATO's future. In the final section, Paul Warnke and David Linebaugh appraise the arms race and the prospect for arms negotiations in "Breaking the Deadlock." They map a clear alternative to the present course, providing a formula that not only deals with SDI but also reduces warhead totals and bars destablizing weapon systems. A list of other Stanley Foundation publication and activities concludes the document. (LH)